Storage receptacles



Mawh 9, 1965l c. P. FROMMELT ETAL 3,172,444

sToRAGE REcEPTAcLEs Filed Nov. 28. 1962 l INVENTORS CYRIL. P. FROMMELT PAUL. J'. FROMMELT SYLVAN J. FROMMELT www www, ed *QM United States Patent Oiiee 3,172,444 Patented Mar. 9, 1965 3,172,444 STORAGE RECEPTACLES Cyril P. Frommelt, Paul J. Frommelt, and Sylvan l.

Frommelt, Dubuque County, Iowa, assignors to Dubuque Awning & Tent Company, Inc., Dubuque,

Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Nov. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 249,574 4 Claims. (Cl. 15d-50) This invention relates to storage receptacles and, more particularly, to storage receptacles which are particularly well adapted for use as emergency kits, and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to alford a novel kit for storing emergency supplies, and the like.

Another object is to atford a novel kit for storing blankets, and the like, in a manner whereby they are readily accessible in the event of an emergency.

Kits for storing emergency supplies have been heretofore known in the art. However, such kits as have been heretofore known have commonly had several inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being heavy and cumbersome to handle, being large and bulky in size; being difficulty to store; not being capable of being quickly and easily opened; not being reliable in operation; or being difficult and expensive to produce commercially, and the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel kit for storing emergency supplies, and the like, which is relatively small and compact in size and which may be readily manually carried.

Yet another object is to afford a novel kit of the aforementioned type wherein the parts thereof are so constituted and arranged that it is insured that the kit may be quickly and easily opened without danger of it becoming jammed shut or difficult to open.

A further object is to alford a novel klit of the aforementioned type which may be readily stored in readily accessible places. A

Another object is to afford a novel kit for emergency supplies, and the like, which provides an effective carrying case for transporting such supplies in emergency vehicles such as police cars, ambulances, and the like.

A further object is to afford a novel kit of the aforementioned type which is practical and eicient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the yfollowing description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of `the present invention and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a front perspective View of a storage receptacle embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the storage receptable shown in FIG. l, with certain parts thereof disposed in different position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the storage receptable shown in FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 in FIG. 1.

A storage receptacle 1, embodying the principles of the -present invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of Kthe presen-t invention.

The storage receptacle 1 is in the form of a portable kit, of the handbag type, and is particularly well adapted for use as an emergency kit to hold emergency supplies such as, for example, woolen blankets, for use in rst aid work, or asbestos blankets, for use in fighting lires, and the like.

The storage receptacle 1 includes a tubular-shaped body portion 2, which may be made of suitable fabric material such as, for example, nylon or canvas duck, or thle like, and an upper cover member 3 mounted on the upper end portion 4 of the body portion 2 in covering relation thereto. The body portion 2 is substantially circular in transverse cross-section, and the cover member 3 is preferably secured throughout its periphery to the upper end 4 of the body portion 2 by suitable means such as stitching 5, FIG. l.

An elongated strap 6 is disposed on the upper face of the upper cover member 3, with the end portions thereof secured to the cover member 3 by suitable means such as stitching 7, to thereby afford a carrying handle for the receptacle 1. The cover member 3 and the handle 6, like the body por-tion 2, may be made of any suitable fabric material such as, for example, nylon or canvas duck, or the l-ike. Two other elongated straps 8 and 9 are disposed in upright position on the rear face of the body portion 2 in spaced relation to each other, with the lower end portions thereof sewed or otherwise suitably secured thereto, and with the upper end portions 10 and 11 thereof, respectively, projecting upwardly above the upper end portion 4 of the body portion 2. The straps 8 and 9 afford members by which the receptacle 1 may be hung from suitable supporting members such as, for example hooks, or the like, not shown, if desired, when the receptacle 1 is being stored. The straps 8 and 9 have openings 12 and 13 extending through the upper end portions 1@ and 11, respectively, for receiving such hooks, or the like.

A lower cover member 14 is mounted on the lower end portion 15 of the body portion 2, FIGS. 1 and 2. The lower cover member 14 includes a substantially circularshapw bottom 16, which is complementary in size and shape to the lower end of the tubular-shaped body portion 2. T he cover member 14 also includes a collar or flange 17 secured to and projecting upwardly from the peripheral edge portion of the bottom 15. The flange 14 forms a complete circle, and is of such size and shape that when the bottom cover rnernber 14 is disposed in normal operative position effective to close the bottom of the body portion 2, with the upper face of the bottom 16 disposed in juxtaposition to the lower edge 15 of the body pontion 2, the flange 17 extends around the lower end portion of the body portion 2 in closely adjacent relation thereto.

The rear portion of the flange 17 is secured to the outer face of the rear portion of the lower end portion 15 of the body portion 2 by suitable means, such as stitching 2d, FIG. 4, and the bottom cover member 14 may be swung on the thus secured rear portion thereof between the fully closed position shown in FIG. 1 and the fully open position shown in FIG. 2.

A plurality of securing members 18, in the form of elongated, substantially rectangular-shaped strips, are mounted on and secured .to the inner face of the ange 17 of the llower cover member 14 in spaced relation therearound, FIGS. 2 and 4. A plurality of other fastening members 19, which are similar in size and shape to the fastening members 18, are mounted on the lower end portion 15 of the bodyportion 2 in spaced relation to each other, with the fastening members 19 disposed in such position on the body member 2, that each of :them is disposed in radially aligned, juxtaposition to a respective L one of the fastening members 1S when thelower cover air/asse 3. member 14 is disposed in the aforementioned operative position effective to close the bottom of the body portion 2, FIG. 4.

The fastening members 18 and 19 are of the type which, when they are pressed into engagement with each other, firmly but releasably adhere to each other to afford a strong connection for holding the flange 17 and the body port-ion 2 together, but one which may be readily torn apart manually when it is desired to open the cover 14. The members 18 and 19 preferably are strips of fastening material of the type readily available on the market under the trademark Velcro, wherein the face of one of the complementary strips 13 or 19, which faces toward the other complementary strip 19 or 18, respectively constitutes a brushed suitable material such as, nylon, or the like, 'to present a fuzzy face, and the other of the respective complementary strips 19 or 18 has a face embodying a plurality of small hooks formed from nylon, or the like, with the hooks operable to releasably engage in, and thereby adhere to the fuzzy face of the respective complementary strip. However, the fastening members 18 and 19 may be of other suitable materials, such as, for example, suitable pressure sensitive adhesive materials, commonly available on the market, which may be repeatedly adhered to, and released from, each other.

A pull-tab 21 is firmly secured to the front face of the liange 17 of the lower cover member 14, diametrically opposite the stitching 20, and affords a handle by which the cover member 14 may be quickly and easily pulled or jerked from the fully closed position shown in FIG. 1 to the fully opened position shown in FlG. 2.

ln the operation of the novel storage receptacle 1, with the lower cover member 14 disposed in aforementioned fully opened position, the material to be stored in the receptacle 1, such as, for example, a blanket or the like, may be inserted into the body portion 2 through the open bottom thereof. The cover member 1d may then be swung upwardly on the stitched rear portion thereof into fully closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, and the fastening members 18 may be pressed into firmly adhering en.- 'gagement with the respective underlying adjacent fastening members 19, to thereby releasably secure the lower cover member 14 in such fully closed position. If it is subsequently desired to gain access to the material stored in the body portion 2, this may be quickly and easily accomplished by merely pulling downwardly on the handle 21 to thereby separate the fastening members 18 and 19 j and swing the cover member 14 downwardly around the stitching 2li into the fully opened position shown in FIG. 2. The material stored in the receptacle 1 may then be readily removed therefrom through the thus opened bottom of the body portion 2.

1t will be seen that the storage receptacle 1 affords an efficient and practical kit, which is particularly well adapted for use in holding emergency supplies, such as, for example, first aid supplies, and the like.

Also, it will be seen that the receptacle 1 may be readily supported in stored position from suitable hooks, or the like, either from the handle 6 or from the straps 8 and 9.

In addition, the receptacle 1 affords a novel container which may be stored, in the manner of a handbag, or the like, in the trunk of an automobile, or in an emergency vehicle such as 1an ambulance, or tire truck, or the like.

Also, it will be seen that with the novel storage receptacle 1 constructed in the aforementioned manner, the supplies stored therein are quickly and readily accessible, the lower cover member 14 being quickly and easily releasable from the body member 2 for movement into open position, by simply pulling or jerking on the pulltab 21, without any danger of the cover member 14 becoming jammed in closed position.

Also, it will be seen that the storage receptacle 1 affords a novel reusable container, the fastening members 18 and 19 being of such construction that after the cover 14 has been opened, the receptacle 1 may again be loaded with supplies, and the cover 14 may again be secured in fully closed position by swinging it upwardly around the stitching 20 into the aforementioned fully closed position, and then pressing the fastening members 18 and 19 together to thereby again releasably secure these latter members to each other. v

Thus, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentof our invention, it is to be under-f stood that this is capable of variation and modification, and we therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A kit for storing material and comprising (a) a flexible body portion having an upper end and a lower end,

(b) a cover member secured to said body portion in covering relation to said upper end,

(c) another cover member for covering said lower end,

(d) adhesive members mounted on said body portion in spaced relation to each other, and

(e) other adhesive members mounted on said other cover member in spaced relation to each other,

(f) said other adhesive members being releasably adhered to respective ones of said first-mentioned adhe sive members for securing said other cover member to said body portion in covering relation to said lower end in quickly releasable relation thereto.

2. An' emergency kit for storing supplies therein and compiising (a) endless flexible sheet material forming a tubularshaped body portion having open upper and lower ends,

(b) an upper cover member secured to said body portion in closing relation to said upper end,

(c) means on said body portion for suspendingly supportingrthe latter,

(d) fastening means facing outwardly from said body portion below said rstmentioned means,

(e) a lower cover member, and

(f) other fastening means on said lower cover member for holding said lowercover member in covering relation to said lower Vend and adapted to be fastened to said first-mentioned fastening means by upward movement of said lower cover member and to be released therefrom by downward movement of said lower cover member,

(g) `said other fastening means being engaged with said first-mentioned fastening means in position to be released therefrom by a downward pull on said lower cover member.

3. A kit for storing materials and-comprising (a) a flexible, substantially tubular-shaped body portion having open upper and lower ends,

(b) a-tlexible upper cover member mounted on said upper end in closing relation thereto,

(c) outwardly facing fastening means mounted on the outer face of said body portion in spaced relation to each other adjacent said lower end,

(d) a flexible lower cover member hingedly mounted on said body portion for movement between open and closed position relative to said lower end, and

(e) other fastening means mounted on said lower cover member for holding said lower cover member in covering relation to said lower end and adapted to be fastened to said rst-mentioned Vfastening means by upward movement of said lower cover member and to be released therefrom by downward movement of said lower cover member,

(g) said other fastening means being engaged with said first-mentioned fastening means Yin position to be released therefrom by a downward pull on said lower cover member.

4. A kit for storing blankets, and the like, comprising (a) a llexible, tubular-shaped body portion formed of endless tlexible sheet material,

(b) said body portion being substantially circular in transverse cross-section and having an upper end and a lower end,

(c) a flexible substantially circular-shaped upper cover formed of flexible sheet material and permanently secured to said body portion in closing relation to said upper end,

(d) strap means secured to and projecting outwardly from said body portion for supporting the latter, (e) fastening members mounted on the outer face of said body portion in spaced relation therearound below said strap means and adjacent to said lower end,

(f) a ilexible, substantially circular-shaped lower cover member formed of llexible sheet material and hinged to said body portion in position to swing between 1) `one position wherein said lower cover member extends across said lower end in position to cover the latter, and

(2) another position wherein said lower cover member depends from said body portion in position to uncover said lower end, and

g) other fastening members mounted on the peripheral edge portion of said lower cover member in spaced relation to each other therearound,

(h) said other fastening members adhering to respective ones of said first-mentioned fastening members when said lower cover member is disposed in said one position for holding said cover member in said one position, and being adapted to be unfastened from said first-mentioned fastening members 'by downward movement of said lower cover member,

(i) tab means stationarily secured to a peripheral edge portion of said lower cover member in position to be pulled downwardly relative to said body portion for releasing said other fastening members from said first-mentioned fastening members to thereby free said lower cover member for swinging from said one position to said other position.

Kinney Apr. 10, 1934 Strong Aug. 5, 1958 

1. A KIT FOR STORING MATERIAL AND COMPRISING (A) A FLEXIBLE BODY PORTION HAVING AN UPPER END AND A LOWER END, (B) A COVER MEMBER SECURED TO SAID BODY PORTION IN COVERING RELATION TO SAID UPPER END, (C) ANOTHER COVER MEMBER FOR COVERING SAID LOWER END, (D) ADHESIVE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID BODY PORTION IN SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, AND (E) OTHER ADHESIVE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID OTHER COVER MEMBER IN SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, (F) SAID OTHER ADHESIVE MEMBERS BEING RELEASABLY ADHERED TO RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID FIRST-MENTIONED ADHESIVE MEMBERS FOR SECURING SAID OTHER COVER MEMBER TO SAID BODY PORTION IN COVERING RELATION TO SAID LOWER END IN QUICKLY RELEASABLE RELATION THERETO. 